81 Comments - VTTK17A1 - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:34 am: Rauner: Don’t let them try to do with their money what I’m trying to do with my money! LOL - Lucky - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:38 am: Other than the 45K from I.U.O.E. Local 150 is there any indication that labor groups will really start to fund the Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs? I’d figure they’d need to spend a good $2-3 million to have a chance of chipping down Rauner. - Cassandra - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:42 am: Easiest to beat in November? Seems to me that would be Rauner himself. Whatever one thinks about the various problems confronting the state, and what the various candidates might do about them, it is not the right time for a mega-mogul. There is still a lot of resentment out there among regular folks, who well know it was mega-moguls who took us ordinary folks down in the financial crisis and the still-present Great Recession. I don’t see how Rauner can get past that, however well-intentioned he may be. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:44 am: Calling on your opponents , who you have, for months and months… blame… as part of the problem, you want your opponents… to condone possible truthful attacks on your campaign…makes me think its a campaign that might wanted to think twice about dinging “career politicians” and lumping “everyone but me” in millions is ads…including republicans. Bruce Rauner could ask his buddy Rahm to talk to the unions? Yeah, not a bad move, but when you wear a shiny bew Carhartt and have an $18 prop watch, you… … wear the jacket? Yep. You do. - Samurai - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:45 am: Press Release: We do not condone or encourage this Democratic partisan attempt to meddle in the Republican primary by disclosing the true Bruce Rauner and his business dealings involving Stuart Levine, Payton Prep clouting, nursing home deaths, or any other disclosures about Mr. Rauner’s business dealings. - langhorne - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:54 am: my enemies enemy is my friend. nice packaging to wrap up quinn, unions, the trio, all together, counterbalanced by the repub gov assoc, the ill repub party (says who?), and nice little local gop organizations. about those locals, is this an endorsement in name only? or are they actually going to get the pluses to the polls on primary day? - Reformed Public Servant - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:55 am: Cassandra has a very perceptive point - a Rauner win in the primary simply solidifies the Democrat’s control over Illinois government. Rauner permits them to run against an idea (remember Occupy Wall St.?) vs. an individual… - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 9:58 am: What I will be excited to see; Pictures of Rahm and the Baron… and sweet sounding narrative of who Bruce Rauner really is. The race will really “honestly” be on to frame and define which “Bruce Rauner” will carry the day. - Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:02 am: If the information is damaging and grotesque enough, only Rauner will care about who runs the ads. Everyone else will be too busy picking their jaws up off the floor. - circularfiringsquad - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:04 am: Did not expect FarmerBrucey to invoke Chris Christie’s RGA….that was the dumbest part of this dumb stunt….maybe he should drop a note to Aaron Schock too - Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:04 am: Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford reply: “We look forward to Mr. Rauner’s apology for his stealth scheme running negative ads against Mr. Schock. We also look forward to his campaign’s pledge not to run negative ads against any of his fellow Republican candidates.” - Norseman - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:05 am: Good move because the campaign is the best that money can buy. - Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:16 am: This is a smart tactic, but it also indicates fear. So far, he’s been able to control the discussion. This development ends that. Not even the Germans could survive fighting a multiple-front war. - Walter Mitty - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:16 am: Very good move…. To the post, he is not just out spending. He is out working and out thinking the other opponents…. The news cycle and opportunity at the debate by his opponents to make the media, make the nursing home passed… The mystery is why? Did they not think it was a winner? Why? Or is it just more passing of an opportunity? Either is concerning. - WhoKnew - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:16 am: Pretty Heady associations there, Rich! Does this mean no more Hammer Thingy ads? - anon - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:18 am: I’m starting to think that the better play for the unions is to save their money for PQ. Spending big money in the primary may, or may not lead to the desired outcome. If the effort fails, and Rauner wins, the unions will have to reload for the general. Why not keep the powder dry, and roll out a barrage shortly after the primary? Think of what Blago did to JBT in 06. The difference, obviously, is that JBT didn’t have the money to respond. Rauner does. However, if the unions play in the primary and fail, Quinn will not have that union money to respond to the certain negative ads that Rauner will run on Quinn. If Rauner goes negative early, and PQ doesn’t respond, it could be over. If Rauner goes negative early and PQ does respond, he will certainly run out of money long before Rauner does. I’m starting to think that the unions should brace for battle early in the general. Stay out of the republican primary. - Take the chance? - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:19 am: ***Easiest to beat in November? Seems to me that would be Rauner himself.*** May be, but do you really want to take a chance, ask the labor union’s up in Wisconsin how they feel about having Walker? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:24 am: - Walter Mitty -, The call it “earned” media for a reason; The “3″ have done very little to earn the media’s attention when any of the following apply to a campaign; Embarrassing lagging in fundraising. Lack of a simple message, including a vision/theme. Extremely poor “1st choice/decision” with unqualified running mate None, zero, paid media to show a complete, competent, statewide campaign to be taken seriously. That is one reason to give you your answer, - Walter Mitty -. “Earned” media needs to be earned, by also showing competence. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:25 am: == The Republican Governors Association called it an “outrageous act of despair” that is an “attempt to subvert the democratic process.” The Illinois GOP condemned these types of “tricks, games and campaign schemes” and said they show “a blatant disregard for the voters of Illinois.” == No irony there ! This from Mr. Timex, the guy throwing millions to hopefully buy the election? - Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:31 am: ===Why not keep the powder dry, and roll out a barrage shortly after the primary?=== Because it’s whole lot cheaper now than in the general.. And who’s to say Rauner won’t start running tons of his own ads the moment he’s nominated? - Upon Further Review - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:36 am: There are still Republicans in Evanston? Are they part of a museum display at the Dawes mansion? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:37 am: - anon -, See “Remo” in Casino; “Why take a chance?” Plus, if Baron Von Carhartt makes it out of the Primary, a narrative will have begun, a foundation, and unlike the “3″, the Unions will, at every turn, “educate” their members, the family of members, those whose Minimum Wage Rauner wants to cut, Chicago parents paying monies to send their kids to parochial school, while Rauner’s Denied Daughter living in New Trier took a spot from over 7000 Chicago kids on a waiting list… So much to educate, and those wanting to teach, need a foundation. - Secret Square - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:37 am: Personally, I suspect that if any GOP candidate is in cahoots with the Dems to insure a Quinn victory in November, it’s Rauner, not the other three. I can think of two possible reasons why his buddy Rahm and other Dems might prefer him to be the GOP nominee: 1. They actually want him to win so that the GOP gets to take the heat for making the income tax hike permanent and for enacting pension reforms (isn’t that one of Rahm’s favorite issues?). Then the Dems can come riding back in to save the day in 4 years. 2. They want him to lose, but in the meantime, use his as a boogyman to scare public employee unions, etc. into sticking with Quinn. - anon - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:41 am: Rich, I agree. Rauner will definitely roll out ads immediately after the primary. Thats why having that union money then is so important. If the unions dump everything into defeating Rauner in the primary, PQ will be alone with his campaign fund to fend off the early general attacks from Rauner. One thing that PQ and JBT have in common is that they have been in public office for so long that the voters know who they are. Blago was unable to undo all of that voter ID with an early negative attack. Who’s to say that Rauner can’t do the same thing to Quinn? - anon - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:42 am: Blago was ABLE to undo that voter ID with his attacks. One typo changes the whole meaning of the post. - Walter Mitty - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:45 am: OW… Very true… The elephant in the room is the question: Is it too late for the other 3? - Think about It - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:46 am: Rauner and his million dollar team once again prove they are hypocrites. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:50 am: - Walter Mitty -, If it were me? I would very seriously focus on finding ways to get my voters to vote, be it early or have a very significant presence on Election Day, including a bare minimum GOTV to pounce on a possible slide by Rauner. A Ground Game, and significant education is the realistic shot any of the “3″ have, but lots of hay needs to get in the barn to make that win possible. - too obvious - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 10:55 am: Rauner’s panicking as the ice continues to melt beneath his feat. The other 3 should simply say, “why would the Dems help us since every Democrat we know is praying Rauner wins the primary so he can destroy what’s left of the IL GOP.” - Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:03 am: ===If the unions dump everything into defeating Rauner in the primary, PQ will be alone with his campaign fund=== Meh. He’s raising a ton of cash. - veritas - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:04 am: I don’t know where to start!! Rauner garnered many of those endorsements by bussing paid “volunteers” in for the straw votes and by contributing to the organizations. That’s a FACT. Didn’t Rauner subvert the many Democratic primaries in which he contributed to candidates and/or voted in the Dem. primary?? His fear is clear and real. He has spent millions on ads to tell us who he is: an $18 watch and a hammer. He has spent millions on ads that tell us his plans for the state: hammering and shaking. He has told us how he will solve all problems: sit down with Mike Madigan. Now PACs are promising to fill in those MINOR gaps like - how he really made his money and of his many dubious associations. HOW DARE THEY!! EDUCATING THE ELECTORATE IS SUBVERSION!! He claims they are doing it to get the weakest candidate elected, but aren’t these the same people who have opposed Pat Quinn?? Isn’t it possible that there are Democrats that will cross over and support good Republican candidates and oppose bad ones?? Isn’t that what Rauner claims to have done MANY times?? Remember I said this: seeing Chip Englander’s name in the press is like hearing those foreboding bells on third and long in a football game. His last candidate, also a millionaire, finished third out of four in the Wisconsin Gubernatorial primary. Let’s just say that success has eluded him. - Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:07 am: There are at least four reasons not to wait if you are a union: - They could eliminate Rauner in the primary. If Rauner survives, he still emerges damaged and weakened for the general. - Union members forced to choose between Mr. Quinn and Mr. Rauner are forced to choose between “bad” and “worse”. It serves their own interests to try securing a “better” option in the general. - Their advertising dollars buy more during the primary. - It becomes harder to eliminate him in the general. If you don’t like Rauner? You have 3 alternatives to choose from at the moment, none of whom carry the baggage or unfavorable ratings Quinn does. - SAP - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:07 am: Rauner: “Dan, Kirk, Bill, shut just do like the Tribune, Sun-Times, AP, WGN, WLS, ABC, NBC, CBS, Pantagraph, and keep it on the down-low about all those people who died in my nursing homes and how I don’t care about the 99% of students who don’t make it into charter schools”. - Frank - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:08 am: Fire now or keep your powder dry? This is a tough call for the anti-Rauner forces. One of the problems with firing now is that the most effective attack in a Republican primary would involve tieing Bruce to Rahm and other Dems, as well as hitting him for being too liberal on social issues. But if Rauner survives the primary, then that line of attack will have only succeeded in helping Rauner set his General Election narrative as a moderate problem solver, willing to reach across the aisle to get things done. That’s exactly the kind of profile a Republican needs to win a blue state governor’s race. In other words, if you take the shot now, you better not miss. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:11 am: I want to be very clear that I intentionally left out the nursing home aspect of the True Bruce Rauner record when I commented. I did so, because as the nursing home tragedy (it is tragic, lives were lost, blame is discussed) evolves in the harsh white light, it will really be up to the “2PACS” to have their choice if narrative in depth, and Earned Media’s decision as to their scope and depth to that record. The others are easy to go lowest common denominator as an issue. The Nursing Home tragedy as a whole is beyond any defining I feel I could show to the overall depth. I will let others decide … and watch. - SAP - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:12 am: Rauner might be running scared, but, other than forgetting to vet himself, he has run the best campaign so far. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:18 am: ===One of the problems with firing now is that the most effective attack in a Republican primary would involve tieing Bruce to Rahm and other Dems…=== Don’t overthink it… It then becomes downstate; Pat Quinn or Rahm Emanuel. Period. That is the prism for Quinn, and if “Bruce Rauner” tries to out “Pat Quinn” Pat Quinn, I think Quinn’s Crew would like that playing field as s starter. - Frank - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:31 am: I hear you, Willy. Quinn v. Rahm/Rauner works for Quinn downstate. Hell, it might work in a lot places. But is Quinn gonna run on that? I think on a macro-statewide level, Quinn is better off pretending like Rahm is on his team. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:37 am: ===But is Quinn gonna run on that? I think on a macro-statewide level, Quinn is better off pretending like Rahm is on his team.=== If I knew how Quinn reacts involving anything, that would be a marketable skill about now. I think polling in the long view of Rahm, after 2014 state fair, will dictate the weapon-grade of Rahm Emanuel, but Rahm, so far, us not a net-positive. If he was, Rahm would be discussed far beyond that race, and far beyond the impact of the ticket. Silence, with a negative trend, is deafening. Good points, however. Ones all should consider now and for November. - AFSCME Steward - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:46 am: I cannot speak on behalf of the other unions, however, from an AFSCME perspective, we want Quinn out. If AFSCME money is part of this the goal is to have an alternative to Quinn that is not an enemy of union workers. We want Quinn out. We are not trying to sabotage the GOP. I am going to vote for the GOP candidate in the primary that I believe can beat Quinn, not help him get re-elected. I will be voting for a GOP candidate in the fall as well, unless the nominee is anti state employee. “It has been widely reported in news outlets including the Associated Press, Chicago Sun-Times and Capitol Fax that Pat Quinn’s Democratic Party and labor union allies - a coalition that has invested $10 million in Quinn’s political career - are threatening to spend millions of dollars in this year’s Republican Primary trying to pick the GOP nominee for governor who they think will be easiest to beat in November.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:47 am: To the Update, “B+”, but riddle me this; Where’s the fire? Why not have Bruce Rauner’s statement hang out there as a question. Why? Well, the discussion then begins to turn to, “What is Rauner so scared of?” Answer too quick, looks like the “3″ are ready to counter-attack. “B+”, but I would have liked this take front and center. “While Bruce Rauner is asking my campaign and the others to denounce a tactic, my campaign will wait to see the truth in the advertising before criticizing anyone who feels empowered to take part in the process. When the Rauner Campaign gets past their own paranoia, and if the Rauner Campaign can point to the errors in the ads, then you will get a response to his first-strike and its paranoia on his record.” Just a thought. Give the potato back. - AFSCME Steward - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:54 am: Let’s see, Bruce Rauner putting millions of his own money into the primary isn’t attempting to hijack the nomination, but others doing so is. Dillard, Rutherford & Brady are all part of this conspiracy to get Quinn re-elected. They are all shell candidates for the Dems. None of them are seriously campaigning to actually win the primary. Their candidacies are all fronts for Quinn. Sounds like he’s getting worried that when voices other than his, exposing him for who he really is, is starting to scare him, or maybe he got ahold of some of the new medical maryjane. “Republican primary voters deserve to know whether Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford are working together with Pat Quinn and his allies to try to hijack the Republican primary,” said Chip Englander, campaign manager for Bruce Rauner. “Will they side with grassroots Illinois Republicans who want to choose our party’s nominee, or will they side with Pat Quinn’s efforts to attack Bruce Rauner?” - olddog - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 11:59 am: This whole thing is looking more and more like a hostile takeover of an underperforming asset. BTW, where are the trolls today? Did Rauner cut their hours? - Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:00 pm: ===Did Rauner cut their hours? === Maybe they’re all on their way to tonight’s big sit-down. - Anon - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:05 pm: == ask the labor union’s up in Wisconsin how they feel about Scott Walker? == Walker enjoys GOP control of the legislature, which Rauner surely would not have. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:05 pm: ===Did Rauner cut their hours? === I heard there was a secret meeting amongst them to unionize…it’s over at 2ish - AFSCME Steward - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:13 pm: I think he’s worried that “Raunerbot” will be one of the new entries in next year’s Oxford Dictonary. “BTW, where are the trolls today? Did Rauner cut their hours?” - Precinct Captain - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:19 pm: ==There is still a lot of resentment out there among regular folks, who well know it was mega-moguls who took us ordinary folks down in the financial crisis and the still-present Great Recession. I don’t see how Rauner can get past that, however well-intentioned he may be.== Except he’s not well-intentioned. He wants to make Illinois a California-style disaster with gigantic and frequent legislative turnover, warehousing almost all power in the governor’s office through his absurd term limits proposal. He wants to keep a stone age tax system. He also thinks poor kids, parent, and seniors are takers who deserve an axe to what hand they have, not an additional helping hand. ==Didn’t Rauner subvert the many Democratic primaries in which he contributed to candidates and/or voted in the Dem. primary??== Shush, you are not supposed to call out the hypocrisy of Billionaire Bruce in Carhartt City. - AFSCME Steward - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:21 pm: I heard there’s a watch sale at Walmart. “BTW, where are the trolls today? Did Rauner cut their hours?” - Cincinnatus - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:25 pm: “Republican primary voters deserve to know whether Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford are working together with Pat Quinn and his allies to try to hijack the Republican primary,” said Chip Englander ++++++++++++++++++++++ Delusional… - veritas - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:28 pm: Talk about hijacking the party!! I attended several high level Republican events post 2012 election. The lesson of 2012 and the theme of each was that the Republican Party HAD to become more inclusive and broaden its base. We could not afford to have the party branded like Romney was. The new national candidates were people with names like Cruz and Rubio. How - HOW in the course of little more than 1 year did we wind up with Bruce Rauner as the possible candidate for Ill. Governor?? Romney is like Mother Teresa compared to Rauner. Rauner is the antithesis of the new GOP that was dreamed of post 2012. And it get’s worse: virtually all of Rauner’s campaign contributions have come from other 1%ers.What does this say about the “new” brand?? That it isn’t new at all and not even improved. How can this guy win a general election in Illinois??? Short answer: he can’t possibly. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:29 pm: The trolls are just coming out of the “warming shelters” as Rauner doesn’t pay enough to cover utilities. Wasn’t Rolex Bob McDonnell from VA also a honcho in the RGA? - Northsider - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:33 pm: As of 2014, everyone still has their first amendment rights. Why is BR attempting to squelch free speech? - Walter Mitty - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:44 pm: How can this guy win a general election in Illinois??? Short answer: he can’t possibly. I really agreed too. To be honest, I think he has more of a chance than many of us think. He was not supposed to be leading now… Search the comments earlier this year… People are fed up… Not the ones who pay attention to these issues….Nuance etc… Is the state better or worse with PQ… Lot’s of time left to keep pounding. When the country is struggling with spending issues, we are crazy to think it’s not a topic independents can’t get their heads around… - Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:46 pm: ===Short answer: he can’t possibly.=== Just a few months ago lots of people didn’t think he could possibly win the primary. - Walter Mitty - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:48 pm: I beat Rich… It’s been a pleasure all… Out on a high note… (Drops Mic) - Cincinnatus - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:48 pm: “If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself.” ― George Orwell, 1984 - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:50 pm: ===Short answer: he can’t possibly.=== “You got that right. Signed, Harry Truman Harold Washington Carol Mosley Braun Rod Blagojevich Pat Quinn…” - veritas - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 12:57 pm: Rich: With all due respect - it will be easier for him to win the primary than the general. None the least because the vote will be split 4 ways as opposed to 2. It has always been possible for him to win the primary.25%+ can conceivably win. Also, the “right-wing” of the GOP tends to dominate the primary. Illinois remains a “blue state” and the Dem’s have the better ground game. 2014 represented a unique opportunity for the GOP to tap into the “union” vote as they were/are disappointed with Quinn. Rauner has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in that regard and served to re-energize and re-focus a tired organization. Sadly, this will have fallout to all GOP state candidates if Rauner is at the top of the ticket. - Wensicia - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:04 pm: He comes off as calling Republican voters stupid by trying to link his three opponents to the unions and Quinn. This will hurt, not help Rauner. It sounds like the hysterical hyperbole that the ISRA puts out. What’s up the paranoia? They’re all plotting against you, Bruce? - Samurai - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:09 pm: ===“Republican primary voters deserve to know whether Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford are working together with Pat Quinn and his allies to try to hijack the Republican primary,” said Chip Englander, campaign manager for Bruce Rauner.=== So says the candidate who is hijacking the republican primary. with misleading ads starring Bruce “Everyman” Rauner the political outsider. Chip, I believe that more importantly republican primary voters have a right to know who is the real Bruce Rauner. Mr. Rauner for his professed lack of knowledge about companies he over saw (or over looked)needs to answer some simple questions. Starting with the relationship of Stuart Levine on GTCR controlled company CompBenefits. Over all the many years that Levine was a consultant for $25,000 per month, what was the subject of his consulting work? Who hired him? Who did he report do? - Norseman - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:13 pm: === “Republican primary voters deserve to know whether Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford are working together with Pat Quinn and his allies to try to hijack the Republican primary,” said Chip Englander === - Illinois voters deserve to know whether Rauner will back pull back on public health regulation of nursing homes so they can become more profitable. - Illinois voters deserve to know whether they can have quality educational opportunities available for their children instead of the children of wealthy influence peddlers. - Illinois voters deserve to know whether their tax money will be spent on sweetheart contracts for wealthy supporters. - Illinois voters deserve to know what political favors will be given to good buddy Rahm at the expense of others. Throwing out red herrings to misdirect the folks is a fun and easy game for the Rauner camp. Come on you wimps opposing him. Start working a little harder. - Cincinnatus - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:22 pm: Samurai, Let’s not forget Rauner’s “buy me a legislator” PAC… He’s not only trying to buy the Mansion. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:25 pm: - Cincinnatus -, My friend, careful. Shouldn’t you be making sure the 9 or so far Tweeterings are rolling with #twill. Tell Hodas to hold his powder on responding. You guys keep dancing to Rauner’s tune, letting Rauner twist will help the “3″ - Pot calling kettle - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:31 pm: ==Rich: With all due respect - it will be easier for him to win the primary than the general.== The man is willing to spend ungodly amounts of his personal fortune to be governor. If you think someone cannot buy the election, just look back to Rod v. JBT. He buried her with silly ads over the summer. By fall, Rod had driven away enough votes that he no difficulty beating her. Rauner is showing us right now the power of money to buy an election via flooding the airwaves with ads. Don’t think for a minute that Bruce can’t win in November. - CollegeStudent - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:35 pm: ====Walker enjoys GOP control of the legislature, which Rauner surely would not have. ==== Regardless of the constitutionality of this move, I seem to recall that he suggested using executive orders to deal with the unions last week. - veritas - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:38 pm: Pot calling kettle: One important distinction: Rod was a Dem and the beneficiary of the blue state and union ground game. They won’t be driven away. When everyone else departs - they will still be there, because they have to be there. Another interesting aside: It appears that Rauner could spend ungodly amounts of his own money, but then - why is he putting the arm on others for money?? - Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:41 pm: ===but then - why is he putting the arm on others for money??=== 1) Because he can. 2) Because that’s what a well-run campaign does. OPM is generally a good thing. 3) Because it dries up money to everyone else. - wordslinger - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 1:49 pm: Aaron Schock is laughing somewhere. Karma comes around. - DuPage Dave - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 2:20 pm: Rauner’s team has at last injected some humor into the campaign. “…working together with Pat Quinn”?? Really, when has Quinn worked in a coordinated effort with others? - walker - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 3:08 pm: Don’t whine. Win. - Bradyforillinois#2014 - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 3:30 pm: This race is finally heating up . Rauner is scared he knows the unions are with in days of firing ad after ad he knows he can’t block them all . If Rauner falls in the polls as I expect he will I expect Brady to take the lead as there the two front runners . Rutherford is not out of it but he’s to moderate to win . So Brady looks likes he’s gaining ground on Rauner - Norseman - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 3:30 pm: Too bad Hodas doesn’t have any money. Sounds like he could’ve crafted some really biting commercials. - A guy... - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 3:35 pm: Rutherford and Brady played this right. Brady probably a little better. Hodas must be eating and drinking the same stuff. He’s sounding as goofy as Dillard now. It’s his job to keep his train on the rails. They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The smart fish nibbles before it bites. - PoolGuy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 3:44 pm: I don’t see how people think Brady is going to give the public unions a better deal than Quinn. Brady put together, supported and passed pension reform. out of the frying pan into the fire? - PoolGuy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 3:50 pm: excuse me “voted for” not “passed” pension reform. - Vortex - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 4:01 pm: Dillard/Hodas, Brady and Rutherford are all playing it right. Rauner is crying wolf. Rauner seems to feel entitled to be able to hijack a party, buy an election and everyone else who also has deep seated views should shut up because Bruce Rauner wants to be governor.Too bad. Nothing worse than a billionaire whiner. Rauner & Co. must be scared badly. They can’t see it yet but a category 5 hurricane is coming to Raunerland. Gonna be ferocious. - Grandson of Man - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 4:47 pm: “Walker” Walker may have done something smart by playing dirty pool. He said he would bargain with union members right before his election. He didn’t run on stripping bargaining. If he had done that, it may have been a different outcome for the first election in 2010. He waited until after the election to do the dirty work. On the other hand, the dirt on Rauner is out early. I can’t or won’t predict what will happen in November, but it will be interesting to see what a season it will be when Rauner faces real heat over the nursing home stories and other like stuff. - Just The Way It Is One - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 5:27 pm: How qukickly can the Rauner campaign/people spell PARANOIA??? (Or cheap attack, ironically, from the, by far, ULTRA-Wealthiest candidate of them all)! Talk about using a loudspeaker to point out how there’s a crumb on the carpet! “Political Hot Air Award” Nomination for the Week of January 26, 2014 at its’ best! Oh, and even though they must have seen it as QUITE annoying and ridiculous, all 3 of the GOP Opponents quite aptly, deftly, and responsibly responded to such silliness..! - Just The Way It Is One - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 5:27 pm: That was meant to read above “How quickly…!” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 27, 14 @ 5:33 pm: Well, the “3″ responded. Please focus on the paranoia as you slam, paint the picture. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.